ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Closed to the public nearly four years ago, Jamestown Mall's only occupants were explorers, vandals and a harsh rehash of natural elements. Speakers no longer played the subdued tone of music, and the stores that filled the mall no longer carried customers, but earlier this month, the shuttered shopping mall found life once more.
As part of a fundraising effort by the Black Jack Fire Protection District Community Outreach, the once-crowded mall became the home of a large-scale paintball tournament last week. The 1.2 million-square-foot property found itself crowded with two teams of firefighters and two teams of policemen; in total, there were 28 teams of four, resulting in 112 paintballers. They weren't alone, either — 300 others watched the fighters go at it from afar.
To play, though, participants had to pay a $100 fee, an easy payment for a once-in-a-lifetime event with a good cause. And, because of their efforts combined with those watching, a total of $10,000 was raised at the temporary revival of Jamestown Mall.
That money went to the Black Jack Fire Protection District's community outreach program, which has been around for years. Perhaps nobody has benefited more from it than the students of the Hazelwood School District.
“Chief Ken Corbin came to us about five or six years ago,” said district spokeswoman Kimberly McKenzie. “He wanted to help the students in our district who may not be able to help the students in our district who may not be able to afford school supplies. They also started raising money and food items for our Hazelwood Food For Thought Program. It basically supplements the food insecurities some of our families experience.”
The money raised will go right back into the community.
“Not only are they heroes, just by the very nature of the work they do. But to go above and beyond, that means so much to our community,” said McKenzie.
When it was all said and done, a police department about 13 miles from the site of the mall was able to emerge victorious; the Woodson Terrace Police Department went home with the title of paintball champions.
Later this year, St. Louis County is expected to begin work on revitalizing the property to create room for new developments.
